Editor’s Note: Emily Andrews-Rice is an intern for StateCollege.com. The Penn State senior and member of Omega Phi Alpha takes Homecoming very seriously (in 2009, she was the sorority’s Homecoming chair). Andrews-Rice has been chronicling the creation of her sorority’s Homecoming float. Check back for her report, which will include photos and video. And be sure to check the Homecoming schedule for a breakdown of the weekend’s activities.
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By Emily Andrews-Rice, for StateCollege.com
Oct. 4
Fall is in the air, and Homecoming is just around the corner. In fact, it officially kicked off Sunday at 6 p.m., with a student dance competition featuring a performance by the well-known band Boys Like Girls. The event marked the start of a week of Penn State spirit.
Sunday also marked the official start of float building (anything built before then is grounds for disqualification). Flatbeds have already been dropped off in front yards, ready to support whatever students have in mind.
In order for organizations to place, they must attend events and fundraisers throughout the week for spirit points. The newest event, the For the Glory talent show, takes place on Tuesday night at Eisenhower Auditorium. For the Glory features a two- to four-minute talent showcase that reflects your organization’s theme. Participation from at least one member from each organization in a pairing is required.
My sorority has chosen to perform a lip-sync number. Since our theme is Shrek, all of the songs come from the multiple soundtracks and tell the Shrek story through a lighthearted song and dance. The mash-up contains songs that the entire audience will recogniz,e including “I’m a Believer,” “Accidentally in Love” and the catchy “Livin’ La Vida Loca.”
The performance is not taken lightly, and rehearsals began about three weeks ago. Twice a week, brothers from the Alpha Chi Rho fraternity and sisters in Omega Phi Alpha meet to learn the choreography.
Several nights of practicing might seem a bit much for a talent show, but the prize is worth the work. One Greek and one non-Greek organization will earn reserved viewing spots for their groups on the parade route. This is a big prize since organizations get there at 9 a.m. to mark out their spot in chalk along College Avenue. (In past years, you’ve probably seen the coffee- and hot-chocolate-clutching students huddling under blankets. By Homecoming regulations you’ll actually get disqualified if you try to hold a spot before 9 a.m.) A reserved spot means not having to stand outside in the cold hours before the parade.
If you want to see the competition yourself, student tickets are available free of charge at the Eisenhower Auditorium. Doors open at 6:30 and the performance begins at 7.
Next up: Building the float. Check back for frequent updates, and keep tabs on calendar of events for the rest of the week.
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Sept. 23
If you’ve ever participated in Homecoming, then you understand how contagious Penn State pride can be. Last year’s Homecoming occurred during the earliest snowfall in State College history. Despite the weather (floats made out of paper do not handle the snow well), I enjoyed every minute of the weeks leading up to the parade and can’t wait to do it again this year. (Although I’d be OK without the October blizzard.)
Over the next few weeks, as a member of a Greek organization that prides itself on its involvement with Homecoming, I hope to provide a little peek into what it’s like to build a float from scratch in a week, or put together a lip-sync performance that reflects the float’s theme. Through my posts, pictures and videos, I hope everyone will be able to understand why we spend hours and hours putting tissue paper into chicken wire. So hopefully when you see those flatbeds coming down the street, you’ll truly appreciate the masterpieces they’re carrying.
Check back for frequent updates, but, in the meantime, be sure to check out the calendar of events for Homecoming week, which kicks off on Sunday, Oct. 3. Many of the events are open to both Penn State students and State College residents.
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